Water ski training apparatus

ABSTRACT

Water ski training apparatus of this invention comprises a generally circular, dish-shaped ski board which enables a novice skier to be pulled by a towboat in water ski fashion and which has a relatively narrow central ski, and a plurality of sections removably secured to the central ski, whereby the sections may be progressively removed from each other and from the central ski until only the central ski remains. This allows a novice skier to make a gradual transition from skiing on a wide ski board to skiing on a narrow central ski as he acquires skills and gains confidence. Also provided on the central ski are movable fins which may be selectively raised or lowered thus providing a skiier learning single ski turnaround maneuvers a transition from a directionally stable slalom ski with fins or rudders on its bottom to an unstable finless trick or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;banana-peel&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; ski on which turnarounds and other maneuvers are performed.

United States Patent [191 Gentry [451 Apr. 15,1975

1 1 WATER SKI TRAINING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Don C. Gentry, 1810Southwest Blvd., Jefferson City, Mo. 65101 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 403,926

[52] US. Cl. 9/310 G; 35/29 R [51] Int. Cl. A63c 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch 9/310 R,31OA,31O B,

9/310 G, 310 AA, 310 C, 310 D, 310 E; 114/235 WS; 35/29 A, 29 R; 272/57B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,173 4/1963 Meyer9/310 A 3.352.275 11/1967 Wilson 114/235 WS 3,599,259 8/1971 Shcwmon9/310 A 3,716,880 2/1973 Sorenson 9/310 G Primary ExaminerTrygve M. BlixAssistant Examiner-Sherman D. Basinger Attorney, Agent, or FirmKoenig,Senninger, Powers and Leavitt 57 ABSTRACT Water ski training apparatusof this invention comprises a generally circular. dish-shaped ski boardwhich enables a novice skier to be pulled by a towboat in water skifashion and which has a relatively narrow central ski, and a pluralityof sections removably secured to the central ski, whereby the sectionsmay be progressively removed from each other and from the central skiuntil only the central ski remains. This allows a novice skier to make agradual transition from skiing on a wide ski board to skiing on a narrowcentral ski as he acquires skills and gains confidence. Also provided onthe central ski are movable fins which may be selectively raised orlowered thus providing a skiier learning single ski turnaround maneuversa transition from a directionally stable slalom ski with fins or rudderson its bottom to an unstable finless trick or banana-peel ski on whichturnarounds and other maneuvers are performed.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures FATENTEDAFR I SIHTS SHEET 1 0F 3 FIG.3

WATER SKI TRAINING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to water ski training apparatus which allows a novice skier tomake a gradual transition from skiing on a relatively wide circular skiboard to skiing on a conventional width ski and from skiing on aconventional slalom ski with fins to a finless trick or banana-peel skias the beginning skier acquires skill and gains confidence.

The process of learning to skillfully ski and to turn around on asingle, regulation tournament trick ski has been long and arduous formost skiers. The first step in this process is to learn to ski on asingle ski with the feet in a heel-to-toe relationship as opposed tousing two skis with the feet side-by-side. The second and more difficultstep is learning the single ski turnaround. The principal reason for theadded difficulty is the lack of stability of the banana-peel or finlesstrick ski used to turn around. The lack of a fin permits the skier tobreak the ski out of its normal track and into a slide, and to completea 180 turn so that the skiers back is toward the towboat.

Several types of water ski training apparatus have been suggested in thepast. One type includes a single platform formed by clamping togethertwo or four regular water skis, U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,529. However, suchan arrangement does not assist the novice skier in learning to ski orturn around on a single ski. Another type includes an adjustable fin orskeg on a water ski or surfboard, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,087,173 and3,516,100. These devices do not allow the skier to retract the fin withhis feet in the foot bindings as is required in the turnaround.

Conventional water ski disks, while providing a relatively stableplatform for the skier, are somewhat difficult to properly tow behind aboat. Because the area of a disk is large as compared to conventionalskis, the disk will plane at a much lower boat speed. In many instancesthe ideal towing speed for a disk is about the transition speed of manytow boats between a displacing and a planing attitude. Many towboats aredifficult to control at their transition speeds. If these conventionalski boards are towed at higher speeds, their forward edge may dipinto-the water and cause the skier to fall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention maybe noted the provision of water ski training apparatus enabling a noviceskier to easily and rapidly learn how to ski on a single ski and toperform single ski tricks; the provision of such apparatus allowing thenovice skier to make a gradual transition from skiing on a relativelywide, circular ski board to skiing on a relatively narrow single ski;the provision of such apparatus allowing the novice skier to make agradual transition for skiing with his feet in a side-by-siderelationship to skiing with his feet in a heel-to-toe relationship; theprovision of such apparatus permitting the skier to control the amountof extension of fins while skiing thereby providing added stabilitywhile the skier is attempting single ski turnarounds or while landingafter completing a jump on a ski ramp; the provision of such apparatuspermitting the skier to control the magnitude of fin extension bymovement of his feet in the foot bindings; the provision of suchapparatus permitting the skier to independently LII vary the relativeextensions of the front and back fins; the provision of such apparatuswhich may readily be towed by most conventional towboats and whichprovides a relatively stable platform for the skier at common skiingspeeds; and the provision of such apparatus which is reliable, easy touse and economical to manufacture. Other objects and features will be inpart apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Briefly, water ski training apparatus of this invention comprises arelatively wide, circular ski board for supporting a novice skier sothat the skier may be pulled by a towboat in water ski fashion. The skiboard includes a relatively narrow central ski, a plurality of removablesections, and means for releasably securing the sections to one anotherand to the central ski to form the ski board. The releasable meanspermits the sections to progressively be removed from each other andfrom the central ski until only the central ski remains thereby allowingthe novice skier to make a gradual transition from skiing on the wideski board to skiing on the narrow central ski as the novice skieracquires skill and gains confidence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thewater ski training apparatus of this invention planing on the water witha skier in a slaloming position thereon with a front fin in a raisedretracted position and with a rear fin in a lowered extended position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the disk with all slats in place:

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the apparatus illustrating the frontfin raised and the rear fin extended;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus with the outer three slatsremoved;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the central ski with all slats removed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 77 of FIG. 2showing means for releasably joining adjacent slats together;

FIG. 8 is an edge view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the apparatus utilizinga number of thin, stiff layers of sheet-like material stacked on top ofone another, the layers being removably secured to one another so as topermit the lowermost layers to be progressively removed from one anotherso as to permit a gradual transition from a ski board to a single ski;and

FIG. 10 is a vertical section on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,a first embodiment of a water ski board of the present invention,indicated in its entirety at 1, includes a relatively narrow central ski3, a plurality of removable sections SA-SF, each sec tion having a pairof slats including a righthand slat SAR and a lefthand slat SAL, etc.,on opposite sides of the central ski, and means, as generally indicatedat 6, for releasably securing the sections to one another and to thecentral ski. Slats SAL and SAR are attached directly to the sides ofcentral ski 3 and are relatively narrow and have a curvature and lengthgenerally corresponding to the curvature and length of the lateral edgesof the central ski. The remaining pairs of slats. attached to the outerlateral edges of a respective adjacent inner slat, gradually increase inboth width and degree of curvature and decrease in length so. whenassembled, form a generally circular disk. The ski board is generallycircular in plan and has, as best shown in FIG. 3. an upturnedperipheral edge 7 making the board generally dish-shaped with agenerally flat bottom 8. The upturned peripheral edge makes the skiboard relatively easy to ride since the upturned edge helps to preventthe front of the board from submerging underneath the surface of thewater when the board is towed at normal skiing speeds. The flat bottomgives added stability to the ski board. The various slats and thecentral ski may be made of any suitable floatable material. such as woodor plastic, whereby the device will float in the event the skier fallswhile skiing.

Various means 6 are employed for releasably securing the slats to eachother and to the central ski. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, therelatively narrow inner slats SAL-SBL are releasably joined together bymeans of bolts B inserted widthwise through holes H in one of the slats(e.g., slat SBL) and threadably engaging an insert I in the inneradjacent slat (e.g., slat SAL) or central ski. The mating lateral edgesof the slats and central ski are of tongue-and-grooves construction foradded joint strength and for forming a disk of the desired shape. Therelatively wide outer slats SDL, SFL and SDR and SFR are releasablyjoined by batten plates P (see FIG. 2) bolted to the slats. Thus it willbe understood that the various slats and the central ski may be securelyfastened together to form a rigid platform and that the various slatsmay easily be removed from one another with the use of only ascrewdriver so that the slats may be progressively and readily removeduntil only the central ski remains.

The central ski 3 conforms generally to the shape of a conventionaltournament trick ski and has foot bindings 9A,9B for reception ofthefeet of the skier. A plurality of mounting positions are provided forthe foot bindings on the central ski and on adjacent slats. This allowsthe foot bindings to initially be mounted in sideby-side relationship(as shown in phantom in FIG. 2) and to be repositioned in intermediatepositions (not shown) until a heel-to-toe relationship (shown in solidlines) is achieved thus providing the beginning skier with a gradualtransition to the more difficult single ski foot position. The footbindings, when in the heel-totoe relation. may be slidable relative tothe central ski thereby allowing the skier to move his feetindependently along the longitudinal axis of the central ski. Footbindings 9A,9B are mounted on the central ski or on the various slots bymeans of clamping screws 11 insertable through longitudinal slats in thefoot bindings and received in inserts 13 in the central ski and in theslats, the position ofinserts 13 corresponding to various and rear endsof central ski 3 are slots 14A and 14B through the ski for reception ofapair of fins or rudders 15A and 158. These fins are pivotally mounted onthe central ski and are attached by linkages l7A,l7B to respectiveadjacent foot bindings 9A and 98 so that by movement of the bindings.the skier may selectively position the fins even while skiing. Moreparticularly, each fin is movable between a lowered extended position inwhich it is fully extended beneath the ski into the water and a raisedretracted position clear of the water. It is to be undersood that theclamping screws 11 for the foot bindings constitute locking means andthus permit fins 15A,15B to be locked in any desired position.Furthermore, it will be understood that with clamping screws 11 loose,the skier may selectively raise or lower fins l5A,l5B while skiing bysliding the foot bindings fore and aft on the central ski.

In use, ski board 1 assists the novice skier in several ways. It helpshim learn to ski on a single ski by providing a gradual transition froma relatively wide ski board to a relatively narrow single ski as theoutermost slats are progressively removed. It aids him in learning toski with his feet in a heel-to-toe relationship by providing a gradualtransition from a side-by-side position for his feet to the heel-to-toerelationship required for single ski skiing. Finally, it helps inlearning single ski turnarounds by allowing the beginner to use the backrudder before he enters a turn and then retracting the back rudderbefore starting the turn, and to again extend the front rudder forstabilizing himself once he attains a backward skiing position, thusavoiding many of the usual falls one undergoes while learning theturnaround on a conventional trick or banana-peel ski.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the novice skier begins learningturnarounds on the ski board I with all sections attached. After severalturns and runs practicing skiing forward, side slips at generally rightangles to the direction of the towboat, and skiing backwards, he shouldhave acquired sufficient skill and confidence to allow removal of one ofthe outer pairs of slats 5FR,5FL. With a few runs at each intermediatestage,

can learn to execute a skillful turnaround with a minimum number offalls. In this manner the novice skier can learn the art of the singleski turnarounds rapidly and easily because the steps of the learningprocess are both gradual and progressive.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a second embodiment of the water skitraining apparatus of the present invention, indicated generally at 19,comprises a relatively narrow central ski 21 and a plurality of stackedsections or panels 23A-23D with ski 21 being on top of the stack. Panel23D, the bottom panel of the stack, is generally circular in plan. Theremaining panels are generally elliptical in plan having substantiallythe same major axis (i.e., length) as the bottom panel and having aminor axis (i.e., width) somewhat less than the adjacent paneltherebelow.

A pair of foot bindings 27A,27B, similar to bindings 9A,9B, are slidablymounted in heel-to-toe relationship atop central ski 21 for reception ofthe feet of the skier. Adjacent each end of central ski 21 is a verticalslot 29A.29B for reception of a fin or rudder 31A.31B. respectively,each fin being pivotally mounted on the top of the central ski. It is tobe understood that each panel has slots therethrough in alignment withslots 29A,29B. These fins are connected to their respective foot bindingby linkages 33A.33B in a manner similar to fins A and 15B of ski board 1to enable the skier to independently extend and retract the rudders bymovement of his feet in a manner as heretofore described.

Panels 23A-23D are releasably attached to the central ski by anysuitable means. such as by bolting. to provide a rigid structure. It isto be understood that the panels may be quickly and easily removed fromone another thereby to progressively allow the skier to reduce the widthof the ski board until only the central ski remains.

The novice skier may start the process of learning to ski and to doturnarounds on a single ski by using the ski board 19 with all panelsattached. After a few runs behind the towboat, the novice may wish toski on the board with the bottom panel 23D removed. As the skiers skillincreases, other panels may be progressively removed until only thecentral ski remains. As heretofore explained in regard to water skiboard 1, a novice skier may at any time gain added stability byselectively lowering or retracting the front or rear fins 3lA.3lB,respectively. Again the learning process is one of gradual andprogressive transition.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. Water ski training apparatus comprising a relatively wide ski boardadapted to support a skier so that the skier may be pulled by a towboatin water ski fashion, said ski board comprising:

a central ski;

a plurality of sections removably secured to said central ski so as toform a dish-shaped ski board generally of the length of andsubstantially wider than said central ski; and

means for releasably securing said sections to one another and to saidcentral ski, said sections being progressively removable from oneanother and from said central ski to constitute a series of water skiboards of progressively decreasing width as each said section is removeduntil only the central ski remains thereby allowing the novice skier tomake a relatively gradual transition from skiing on said relatively wideski board to skiing on said relatively narrow central ski as the skieracquires skill and gains confidence.

2. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skiboard has an upturned peripheral edge.

3. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid sections comprises a pair of slats, one of said pair of slatsconstituting the innermost pair of slats being releasably secured tosaid central ski,

said slats of said innermost pair being on opposite sides of saidcentral ski, the others of said pairs of slats being removably securedto the outer lateral edge ofthe inner adjacent slat, one on each side ofsaid central ski.

4. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid sections comprises a plurality of panels stacked on top of oneanother and removably secured relative to one another, one of saidpanels being generally circular and constituting the bottom panel ofsaid ski board, others of said panels each being generally elliptical inplan and having substantially the same major axis as said bottom paneland having a minor axis somewhat less than the adjacent paneltherebelow. and said central ski comprising a top panel of said skiboard.

5. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcentral ski conforms generally to the shape ofa conventional single skiand has a plurality of foot bindings for reception of the feet of theskier, said foot bindings being located at selected positions relativeto each other thereby to permit the skier a gradual transition fromskiing with his feet side-by-side to skiing with his feet in aheel-to-toe relationship.

6. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcentral ski has a slot therethrough. and a fin mounted on said ski formovement between an extended position in which said fin extends downthrough said slot into the water and a retracted position clear of thewater. and means operable by the skiers feet for selectively varying theposition of said fin to any desired position between its extended andretracted positions while skiing.

7. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidcentral ski has two of said slots therethrough. said slots extendingalong the longitudinal axis of the ski, one of said slots being adjacentthe front of the ski and the other being adjacent the rear of the ski.and a pair of said fins including a front fin pivotally mounted on saidski adjacent said front slot for movement between its extended andretracted positions and a rear fin pivotally mounted on said skiadjacent said rear slot for movement between its extended and retractedpositions. each of said fins having means operable by the skiers feetfor selectively varying the position of said fin to any desired positionbetween its extended and retracted positions while skiing.

8. A water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 7 furthercomprising a pair of foot bindings movably mounted on the central ski,said means for varying the position of said fin comprising a linkinterconnecting each of said fins to an adjacent foot binding wherebymovement of said foot bindings relative to the central ski effectsmovement of said fin interconnected thereto between its extended andretracted positions.

9. Water ski training apparatus as set forth in claim 8 furtherincluding means for locking each said foot binding to said central skithereby to lock said respective fin in position corresponding to theposition of its respective foot binding.

10. Water ski apparatus comprising an elongate ski member having bindingmeans for releasably holding at least one of the skiers feet in positionon said ski, a front slot adjacent the forward end of the ski, a rearslot adjacent the rear end of the ski, said slots extendingsubstantially along the longitudinal axis of the ski, a pair of finsincluding a front fin mounted on the ski adjacent said front slot, arear fin mounted on the ski adjacent said rear slot, andmeans-interconnected between said binding means and said fins forselectively moving either of said fins independently of the otherbetween a raised and a lowered position, said means being operable bythe skiers feet while skiing.

1. Water ski training apparatus comprising a relatively wide ski boardadapted to support a skier so that the skier may be pulled by a towboatin water ski fashion, said ski board comprising: a central ski; aplurality of sections removably secured to said central ski so as toform a dish-shaped ski board generally of the length of andsubstantially wider than said central ski; and means for releasablysecuring said sections to one another and to said central ski, saidsections being progressively removable from one another and from saidcentral ski to constitute a series of water ski boards of progressivelydecreasing width as each said section is removed until only the centralski remains thereby allowing the novice skier to make a relativelygradual transition from skiing on said relatively wide ski board toskiing on said relatively narrow central ski as the skier acquires skilland gains confidence.
 2. Water ski training apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said ski board has an upturned peripheral edge.
 3. Waterski training apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of saidsections comprises a pair of slats, one of said pair of slatsconstituting the innermost pair of slats being releasably secured tosaid central ski, said slats of said innermost pair being on oppositesides of said central ski, the others of said pairs of slats beingremovably secured to the outer lateral edge of the inner adjacent slat,one on each side of said central ski.
 4. Water ski training apparatus asset forth in claim 1 wherein each of said sections comprises a pluralityof panels stacked on top of one another and removably secured relativeto one another, one of said panels being generally circular andconstituting the bottom panel of said ski board, others of said panelseach being generally elliptical in plan and having substantially thesame major axis as said bottom panel and having a minor axis somewhatless than the adjacent panel therebelow, and said central ski comprisinga top panel of said ski board.
 5. Water ski training apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said central ski conforms generally to theshape of a conventional single ski and has a plurality of foot bindingsfor reception of the feet of the skier, said foot bindings being locatedat selected positions relative to each other thereby to permit the skiera gradual transition from skiing with his feet side-by-side to skiingwith his feet in a heel-to-toe relationship.
 6. Water ski trainingapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said Central ski has a slottherethrough, and a fin mounted on said ski for movement between anextended position in which said fin extends down through said slot intothe water and a retracted position clear of the water, and meansoperable by the skier''s feet for selectively varying the position ofsaid fin to any desired position between its extended and retractedpositions while skiing.
 7. Water ski training apparatus as set forth inclaim 6 wherein said central ski has two of said slots therethrough,said slots extending along the longitudinal axis of the ski, one of saidslots being adjacent the front of the ski and the other being adjacentthe rear of the ski, and a pair of said fins including a front finpivotally mounted on said ski adjacent said front slot for movementbetween its extended and retracted positions and a rear fin pivotallymounted on said ski adjacent said rear slot for movement between itsextended and retracted positions, each of said fins having meansoperable by the skier''s feet for selectively varying the position ofsaid fin to any desired position between its extended and retractedpositions while skiing.
 8. A water ski training apparatus as set forthin claim 7 further comprising a pair of foot bindings movably mounted onthe central ski, said means for varying the position of said fincomprising a link interconnecting each of said fins to an adjacent footbinding whereby movement of said foot bindings relative to the centralski effects movement of said fin interconnected thereto between itsextended and retracted positions.
 9. Water ski training apparatus as setforth in claim 8 further including means for locking each said footbinding to said central ski thereby to lock said respective fin inposition corresponding to the position of its respective foot binding.10. Water ski apparatus comprising an elongate ski member having bindingmeans for releasably holding at least one of the skier''s feet inposition on said ski, a front slot adjacent the forward end of the ski,a rear slot adjacent the rear end of the ski, said slots extendingsubstantially along the longitudinal axis of the ski, a pair of finsincluding a front fin mounted on the ski adjacent said front slot, arear fin mounted on the ski adjacent said rear slot, and meansinterconnected between said binding means and said fins for selectivelymoving either of said fins independently of the other between a raisedand a lowered position, said means being operable by the skier''s feetwhile skiing.